The guards that had been stationed outside the main house bowed deeply the moment Wanqing stepped forward.
"Welcome home, young miss." They said in unison.
Gu Wanqing nodded stiffly at them and then moved past them without another glance. Her movements were calm and everything she did seemed to be without effort.
Anning stood there for a moment, taking in everything around her before quickly following after Wanqing.
As soon as they stepped inside, more people had gathered on either side of the hallway.
Servants and maids who had come out to welcome Wanqing froze when they noticed the unfamiliar girl trailing behind her. Their gazes lingered on Anning's appearance, her worn out clothes, the dirt smeared over her skin and the strange way she was walking.
(No offense Anning!)
"Who is she?" One of the servants managed to ask.
"I think she's wearing those clothes meant for slaves. Could she be one?" Another said.
"Did Miss bring her back herself?"
"Master Gu certainly wouldn't be pleased with this..."
Anning caught bits and pieces of their whispering and frowned.
It seemed like this young miss wasn't one to do something like this. She thought, her gaze fixed on Wanqing's back.
Then why did she buy me?
Was it because she had bumped into her?
Or was there something else?
Wanqing didn't even flinch at their words. She kept walking as though she hadn't heard a single word.
Anning slowed down slightly, she could feel the weight of everyone's gazes on her. She rolled her eyes before picking up her pace again to catch up with Wanqing.
The deeper they walked into the house, the fewer people they came across.
The grand halls they passed through were decorated in a way that felt both traditional and still screamed 'Wealth'. Wooden pillars lined the corridors, the top of the pillars painted in gold.
Soft light filtered through the windows, casting faint shadows against the shining floors.
To Anning, this place didn't look like a home. It gave off the feeling of a work place or maybe the house of a ruthless politician.
Wanqing finally stopped at the end of the hallway, pushed a door to the side before stepping away inside.
Anning followed without making a single sound.
The room they stepped into was spacious, yet it carried a sense of simplicity. A low table rested at the center of the room, surrounded by soft mats.
On the wall hung a few pieces of art, things that Anning had never seen before. She could perceive the faint scent of jasmine wafting in the air and it made her feel... relaxed.
Wanqing kicked off her shoes with ease and walked further into the room before lowering herself gracefully onto a furry mat.
Anning remained standing, totally unsure of what she was supposed to do.
Should she sit? Or maybe remain standing? Maybe she should say something.
She didn't want to though.
Wanqing rested her jaw against her palm, lifting her gaze to meet Anning's. "Kneel."
Just one word. A word that made Anning almost spit out blood.
'Kneel? Of all the things this pretty lady could say... She had to pick kneel?' Anning thought, almost slapping her hand over her forehead.
But at this point, Anning knew she didn't have a choice..
She opened her mouth to respond,.but Wanqing cut her off before she could say anything.
"You are a mere slave." She said calmly. "If I tell you to kneel, you get on your knees. If I tell you to crawl over here, you do it without complaining. Don't test my patience, tiger."
"Excuse me?" Anning blurted out before she could stop herself. Did she just say tiger?
Wanqing's eyes widened slightly but she quickly schooled her expression. She had merely blurted that out on a whim, she didn't exactly want to say it!
When Wanqing didn't respond, Anning felt disappointed. She had thought this pretty lady would be different and as she remembered the words of the scar faced man... She shuddered.
He would slice her head off.
She pressed her lips into a thin line, trying to stop herself from arguing. After all, she had rights as a human being.
But she knew this wasn't the right time for this. She bit down lightly on her lower lip, then slowly lowered herself to her knees.
One after the other.
It felt humiliating to be doing this, but what could she do?
The edge of Wanqing's lips curled slightly, though Anning didn't notice.
"What's your name?" Wanqing asked.
Anning blinked, caught off guard by the question. Why would she ask such a question?
She tilted her head slightly, a small, almost mocking smile appearing on her lips.
"I don't think my name is important," she responded. "Not when everyone here would still refer to me as a 'slave'"
Wanqing was left speechless at her words. She simply stared at her for a moment before speaking again.
"If you wish to avoid getting in trouble, listen carefully." She began, her tone turning serious. "You will speak only when spoken to. You are to kneel when in my presence. You will not look anyone in the eyes unless it is absolutely necessary, and from this moment on, you only answer to me and anything I ask you to do, must be done without any complaints."
Anning listened carefully, when she heard Wanqing's tone turn serious...she thought the lady was about to say something meaningful.
The rules sounded absolutely ridiculous. Degrading, even.
But she nodded anyway, not because she agreed. But because she was tired of speaking and just wanted to live.
Dying once was enough for her.
Wanqing was about to continue speaking when a knock sounded at the door, making her brows furrow in displeasure.
"Come in."
The moment she finished speaking, the door slid open. Two women stepped into the room, closing the door behind them.
One wore a faded brown dress, her eyes fixed on the floor as she entered. The other was dressed more neatly in a simple hanfu, her shirt black hair tied neatly behind her.
The moment the black haired girl saw Wanqing, her face lit up as she hurried forward, throwing herself on to Wanqing without hesitation.
"Wanqing!"